Goal Adjustments

After the range session this week, and taking an honest look at where I think I am versus what I wanted to achieve this year, I think two adjustments the main goal and a few intermediate goals are in order.

First, I had established a 7 second and 5 second time limit for the first and second goals respectively. I did not, however, establish a ‘starting position’ for these limits. Originally, I had thought I would be starting already in the shooting position. But this is not a realistic scenario for an everyday marksman where opportunities for a shot will not typically come when already in a prepared position. So, I will update the goals to reflect starting from a standing position with rifle at the low ready, and I will give myself more time to get into position and make the shot. I am thinking 20 seconds and 10 seconds, respectively. If I manage to meet or exceed this new modified goal before the end of the year, then I will reduce the times.

Also, Shawn from Loose Rounds pointed out that the goal was a stretch for someone at my relatively basic skill level and equipment. I will update the goal to reflect using quality match ammunition, which should help. For now, I am keeping the size of the targets as written. Until I gather more data on the performance of my weapons with quality ammunition, I don’t want to change too much.

I also want to thank Shawn and John from Firearm User Network for linking to my blog. I never expected this kind of support starting out, and I really appreciate it.

Also, I have added two intermediate goals.

Develop a mental management/pre shot program that will be employed on every shot during practice, dry fire, and live fire.

Choose consistent factory ammunition load that will be used for all practice

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4 thoughts on “Goal Adjustments”

Dry firing is one of the most important training tools we have. but people always seem to scoff at it or assume its not all the important for anything other then trigger control. 10 years ago when I first got it in my head I wanted to hit a target at 1000 yards with an iron sighted A2 I practiced intensively every night for a month leading up to it without firing a shot. Every night I lay in the floor in prone with a sling and sitting with a sling while dry firing. that was 1 hour each. I used a reduced 25 meter zeroing target on the wall as an aiming point, then other times I worked on trigger control while visualizing the real target and me making the hit. this is important I feel, because it becomes something you expect to happen, A lot of people poo poo shooting from a bench but it is also a good tool. its good to master a weapons trigger from a bench and to test the guns accuracy and the ammo with little else to worry about. this gives you confidence in the rifle and allows you to concentrate on other things Like your position and sling. for most people proper prone and sitting are not comfortable, so it is imperative to get into them every night and stretch your self until they feel natural. dry firing at night i essential. if its too hard at first. get in those positions while on a soft matt or on your bed. this will not stress your joints or muscle too much until you are ready to lay on the hard floor. make sure you start using the sling ASAP during practice. people often have no idea if they actually have the sling on right or tight enough until they find out later the hard way. It has to be just about turning your support hand purple for it to be rock solid. knowing the right way to install and use the 1906 sling is a must. I should have just made a blog post for this hahaha

I avoided the sling for the longest time, but I have found it to be an invaluable tool now. I don’t quite think I’m using correct as you describe it, though, as my hand is not turning purple, lol. It does get pretty uncomfortable after a bit, though.

One thing I am having trouble with when using the sling is hand position. My assumption is that the support hand should be used to change elevation based on how close or far it is from the body. But it would also make sense to have it butted up against the sling stud. I have found that I am not relaxing my support hand very much, and the tension it is providing is what stops it from sliding around the stock.

need to get the hand up to the swivel as close as you can, idealy the support arm and hand will be relaxed if the sling is on right. but it will be rock solid. your left hand really does nothing but act as a rest for the forearm. the sling loop needs to be as high up on the killing arm as you can get it, and the alternate killing hand should be as close to the front swivel as you can get, and the support arms needs to be as close as directly under the forearms as you can get, almost parallel to the barrel underneath.